Rollercoaster Ride

The last 17 days took me on a ride of emotions that I thoroughly enjoyed (when I wasn't having complete meltdowns). It was a NON-stop party.  Sailor, Seryn, and I lost hours and hours of sleep and by day 14 we all were feeling it and my patience was on empty.  I love my family and had SOOO much fun with them.  My younger siblings had a week off for spring break so we got to  spend quality time together.  Traveling makes mealtimes for toddlers not very convenient.  Seryn got to enjoy lots of new foods- many not so healthy: Arby's curly fries, graham crackers and more graham crackers, lots of bread, frosted cookies, and the like. Sailor got to play with her favorite person on the earth: Aunt Tierney.  Tierney was the BIGGEST help I have not had in forever.  She is the ultimate babysitter and I think it's fair to say Macey's wedding day would not have happened if she hadn't been there to help me so I could help my mom, so she could get Macey's day just right. 3 ENORMOUS OORAHs for Tierney! Sailor also learned to speak better because of this trip; she speaks longer and more correct sentences.  I'm pretty sure it's because she had 10 people to talk to instead of just myself all day long. I learned that I possess very little patience, especially when I and my kids don't have naps. I learned I would NOT be a good single parent.  Another 3 ENORMOUS OORAHs for husbands! Oh, how much I missed Chase and his helpful hand.

 This 17-day ride also taught me that I MUST pray sometimes, because I literally can't do things on my own.  I had a couple emotional meltdowns...one of those was right in the middle of Macey's beautiful reception. My kids were both hysterically bawling-in front of everyone.  Crying for nothing really, except for the attention and care from their mom who happen to be neglecting them all day- this being the other lesson I learned: kids need and want the love from their mommies.  My Sailor became needy and whiny many times over the course of the 17-days, and when I finally took a moment to sit down with her, 9 times out of 10 all she wanted was me to sit and watch a show with her, or roll her up "like a taco" (wrap her in a blanket) and hold her. Seryn was the same.  Whiny and fussy until her mom took the effort to step away from wedding planning and comfort her. She would crawl after me until I would hold her.  This opened my eyes to how special and important a mother's job is.  Children need their parents and nothing is more important than to love, care, and nurture them. My newest goal is to be more aware of becoming more active as a mother and less active in the other areas of my life.  There are so many distractions that keep me from being the best mom that I can be.  I want my children to grow up remembering that I spent time with them and keeping busy in their lives, and not just my own.  I love and adore my kids so I need to show them that!  And I must publicly apologize to those who had to watch my lowest moments...when I wanted to run away and scream.  I know I wasn't a pretty sight! :)

The 17-day trip was filled with campfires and smore making, wedding planning, cooking and baking, swimming, card playing, traditional mexican fiesta with music and dancing, marriage of my little sister, bow making, painting, 4-wheeler riding, eating out, and spending lots of time with my mom- she's so special to me!

Pictures to come...